More great news from the US last week as California introduced the California Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act to end the sale of animal-tested cosmetics in the state. The bill aims to harmonise California law with regulations in over 30 countries including the European Union, Norway, Israel, and India which already prohibit the sale of new animal-tested cosmetics.

Monica Engebretson of Cruelty Free International said, “Our success in ending cosmetics testing on animals in the European Union and now in a growing number of countries has proven that a cruelty free cosmetics market is possible. We applaud California for introducing this bill to ensure that cosmetics sold in the state are safe and humane.”

California has led the way in promoting modern alternatives to animal tests. In 2000, California became the first state to make it unlawful to use animals for testing when an alternative method is available. In 2014, the state passed the Cruelty Free International sponsored - Cruelty Free Cosmetics Resolution - which called on Congress to prohibit animal testing for cosmetics and to phase out marketing animal-tested cosmetics.

The introduction of the Act by Senator Cathleen Galgiani follows the introduction of the similar New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act and the Hawaii Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act both also backed by Cruelty Free International.